Cultural Competency Readings for Oct 20
This week we will be having a discussion on “Cultural Competency” building off of last week’s EIESL workshop at the Global Lounge. For Wednesday’s class, please have a read through these two articles:
I’ve Come to Help
Intercultural Effectiveness
For more information on EIESL or Cultural Competency, try these sites:
The EIESL Project Web Based Guide Book
The EIESL Project Blog
When I think about traveling in third world countries where a different language is used, the first thing that comes to mind is how I can best integrate myself in their culture to get the most enriching experience. I feel the best way to accomplish this is to learn their language. I am going to talk about two different experiences traveling in Latin America and how speaking Spanish was key in me getting the most out of my trip.
My first backpacking trip around Central America was less about mingling with the locals and more about discovering myself. My second trip around South America was more about using the Spanish I learned at UBC and testing my knowledge of how much I obtained from class.
When I look back at both trips, I learned that traveling can be more enriching when you speak the local language; you understand the people more and they understand you more. For example, in South America I understood their sense of humor and how much fun they like to have and how much love they express towards family and travelers. I found the locals very hospitable and they treat you like family. Moreover, I felt that the locals appreciate that you have taken the time to learn their language because once you start speaking, even while making grammar mistakes, they really show more of an interest in you. They want to take you out, show you the city and the fun things to partake in. In conclusion, I feel that language can be a huge barrier in immersing yourself fully into their culture; so to get the best experience, take the time beforehand to learn the local language because it will payoff in the end!
I think the article “I’ve come to help” touches upon an important point which is the mutual exchange and learning that has to happen when someone is travelling abroad.
If I were to tell something to a fellow student going to volunteer abroad, I would tell her to keep her mind as open as possible. That being said, in my mind I consider volunteering abroad only to be serving the purpose of the student: she gets to travel, meet new people, perhaps start learning a new language. However, one cannot benefit if they remind themselves that things might work differently than in thir home country.